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They wandered the garden path, shoulders brushing. Tyler stared up at the sky as a nervous energy crackled between them.

“Is that a little tree house?” Josh was looking up at a tiny cottage and a series of small ledges nailed to a trellis that led up to it.

“I built that for Mr. Poops.” Tyler frowned. “When I first got home and I could barely get out of bed. Nadia knew I needed a project, so she asked me to make something out here for that crazy cat.”

“He’s pretty terrific.”

Tyler pointed at Josh and chuckled. “See, that’s how he gets you. We never had pets growing up. My father hated animals. But about a year ago, Nadia came home from the grocery store and Mr. Poops was sitting inside the garage yowling at her like she was late for an appointment. Dumb cat.”

“Not so dumb.”

“Well, no. That’s the thing. He wouldn’t scram. He just kept being loud and cute until Nadia gave up and gave in. Now it’s like he’s always lived here. Sleeps in my bed most nights.”

“I’ve always wanted a pet, but I’ve never had the nerve.” Josh sounded sheepish at the confession.

Tyler looked at him like he was bananas. “They aren’t scary.”

“I think it’s all the feelings. I worry too much. If something happens, what do you do?”

“You deal.” Tyler turned and tapped his heart. “I mean… right?”

Josh laughed. “Yeah. Of course.”

“Until you do, you’re welcome to come borrow Poops anytime.”

“Deal.” Their eyes held again for a bunch of heartbeats.

The backyard was bright under the moon, the air balmy and soft.

After a few minutes of companionable silence, Josh turned to say, “Well… it’s getting late. I should head home.”

“No.” Tyler didn’t want him to go. He still hadn’t said any of the things he needed to. “Don’t go yet.”

Josh looked surprised. “Oh. Okay. If you want.”

“That sounded bad.” Say something, dummy. Tell him. “I just like you being here. A lot. If you need to go, I’m not going to keep you prisoner.”

Josh bumped against him. “You already abducted me once, remember?”

Tyler stepped in to stand behind Josh under the twinkling stars, close enough to feel the warmth of his body.

Josh turned as if to ask him a question. For one long moment of anticipatory silence, Tyler felt the shimmer of all his unspoken emotions hanging in the air. And then Josh reached up and touched Tyler’s face wonderingly.

All his fears fell away. Tyler turned his face into Josh’s palm and kissed it with passionate intensity, trying to communicate everything in him in one movement. “I can’t help it.”

Josh froze again but didn’t take his hand away. At first his eyes looked terrified and titillated.

Unable to resist one more second, Tyler leaned in and kissed Josh, folding him in his arms and devouring him, claiming him, pouring all his longing and desire into the burning place where their mouths met.

“Unf.” Josh made a happy sound at the back of his throat. After a startled heartbeat or two, Josh’s arms rose and closed around Tyler. Josh tipped his head and kissed back with real hunger, growling and grinding against him.

Tyler couldn’t get close enough. Bending his knees, he pressed Josh back into the tree trunk. He pulled and grabbed at Josh’s flesh, grappling with all the raw strength bundled in his arms.

Josh grunted at something and stumbled a moment, but then they were braced solid and his erection pressed hard against Tyler’s belly, humping against him. The pleasure was exquisite.

Tyler ground his own boner into Josh’s muscle. His skin was fire, and heat crackled around them both. If he wasn’t careful, he’d lose control standing in his boyhood backyard and cum in his boxer briefs. “Wait—wait. Hold up.”

“Sorry. Oh.” Josh raised a shaking hand to his lips. “Sorry.”